Mario Kinsey, Kansas University’s 6-foot-2 freshman point guard from Waco, Texas, has a severe case of the flu.
“He’s very sick. He’s been throwing up all day,” KU basketball coach Roy Williams said Tuesday.
Kinsey also is a KU football player. Williams does not see the day the hoops walk-on/football scholarship player gives up the gridiron.
He practiced with the football team from August until Week Six this year while red-shirting. Kinsey has been with the basketball team since the first day of practice.
Next year, Kinsey will stay with football from August until the final game.
“I’ve been out there to see him play (football),” Williams said. “His best quality is leadership.
“He can throw it. He has good feet. I would not be shocked in the least, in fact I’d probably be surprised the other way, if he wasn’t the starter on the football team next year. I think he’ll be a quarterback to be reckoned with four years.”
There was no change in the injury status of Luke Axtell, KU’s senior guard from Austin, Texas. He sprained his left ankle eight days ago.
“I don’t expect him to play Friday and don’t expect him to play Monday,” Williams said. “The word ‘expect’ is not for sure, but I don’t expect either game. He is very concerned about it. I don’t think he’s trying to rush it. It was painful.”
The Jayhawks (2-0) resume play against North Dakota at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Allen Fieldhouse.
KU’s coach is also ailing a bit. “I brought back ‘the New York crud,’ Williams said Tuesday night, indicating he was struggling with a bug he brought back from last week’s tourney.
A limited number of general admission tickets remain for Kansas’ next six home games versus North Dakota (Friday), Boise State (Monday), Washburn (Nov. 25), Middle Tennessee State (Nov. 27), Illinois State (Nov. 30) and Tulsa (Dec. 16). Fans can call 1-800-34-HAWKS.
